​Warm up at the Red River Winter Market

I don’t know about you, but I have spring fever. So to get us through until spring and the full-fledged Red River Market, there will be a winter version to bring some warmth to what we hope is nearly the end of winter here in Fargo.

Featuring everything from homemade hot sauce, to local honey, to Alpaca wool, and so many more vendors featuring bakery, household, and crafts, the Red River Winter Market is Saturday, March 4, 10am to 2pm in the historic Stone Building (formerly the Downtown Avalon), courtesy of the Kilbourne Group.

It will feature live music, coffee, and beer, and many makers with booths. Participating vendors are Off the Deck Hot Sauce, Three Bears Honey, Ten Seven Acres (Alpaca wool items), Fargo Brewing, Heart and Soil Farm, Jen’s Breads and Cookies, The Blue House, Everest Tikka House, At Home Bakery, Lucid Bakery, African Express, New Breed, 20 Below Coffee, Stubborn Oaks, Raw Dakota Kitchen, Plants for Patients, Wuve, and Must Love Beads. At the time of publication, more vendors are still being added. Aaron from Vinyl Giant will be spinning records and other live musicians are expected.

Simone Wai, board member for the Red River Market, is excited about their first winter event. She and a team of volunteers decided this event would be a way “to strengthen the local food system,” in that they are providing opportunities “for our vendors to sell their goods” and opportunities for us to purchase them. She describes the Red River Winter Market as a “pilot” to see if market goers are interested in a regularly scheduled winter market.

Simone is looking forward to “all the great products that will be available,” but even more so, “creating a place for the community to gather and spend time with their neighbors this winter.”

One of the vendors participating in the Red River Winter Market is Ten Seven Acres, owned by Dirk and Jessie Monson. Ten Seven Acres is a farm that Dirk describes as “off the beaten path for most potential customers” so he sees the Red River Market as a venue to showcase their products “in a way that we could have only dreamed of as a small producer. Being able to take our local products to a market in a place like Fargo has been so critical to our operation.”

For this event, Dirk says that Ten Seven Acres will be offering alpaca-related products including yarn, hats, headbands, cat toys, dog toys, and the “ever popular alpaca dryer balls” which were “far and away” the top seller for them in 2016. He explains, “For those who don't know, our dryer balls are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional dryer sheets that are often coated with harsh chemicals. Our customers have raved about how much they love the dryer balls and we expect them to be a hot seller on March 4.”

Often Ten Seven Acres brings an animal or two, such as their alpacas or sometimes even their pet, Fred the Mini Horse. Look for them throughout the summer at the market. Dirk and Jessie think it is important to give people a chance to get up close to the alpacas, which are “wonderful animals.” Ten Seven Acres is one of the only alpaca farms in the region. This summer they are planning on hosting some fun events at their farm, including a shearing event in May and a “Movie Night with the Alpacas” in July.

Another vendor is “Off the Deck Hot Sauce,” owned and operated by Rachel and Jeremiah Utecht. Rachel grew up in Park Rapids, Moorhead, and Pelican Rapids while Jeremiah was reared in a military family and settled in Fargo during high school. Rachel and Jeremiah discovered the Red River Market while biking downtown during its first year.

Off the Deck Hot Sauce officially started sales at the Red River Market in August of 2016. Jeremiah describes the products as “fermented hot sauces.” He explains, “While almost all commercial producers will only ferment the peppers, we do whole recipe fermentation. The results are hot sauces that are pepper forward, without an overwhelming vinegar character. Our sauces are basically delicious hot pepper smoothies. Because of the fermentation, our sauces are live products whose flavor will continue to develop over time.”

They are looking forward to the Red River Winter Market because they’ve missed the other vendors and also consider it “a good primer” for their upcoming busy market season.

They are also launching a sister adventure this year – Flannel Fizz, which is a handcrafted soda company specializing in flavors from whole foods without artificial ingredients. Jeremiah says to look for it this summer next to Off the Deck Hot Sauce.

Ashley Smalley, Fargo, is a visual arts instructor at Liberty Middle School and has been a frequent Red River Market goer, saying she rarely misses a Saturday, along with her two-year-old son, Ciaran. She says that Ciaran “absolutely loves it.” At the market, Ashley has purchased wildflowers, clothing, food, and fun treats for her son.

Both Ashley and Ciarian are “really into music,” so they appreciate the live music at the market.

Ashley is looking forward to attending the March 4th market. She adds, “I am interested in the environment that the market creates. It really brings the community together and opens us up to some things that we don’t normally have the opportunity to be part of. Even if I do not buy anything, I go for the atmosphere!”

Jenn McCormack is a Fargoan who lived in Minneapolis for eighteen years and has been living back in Fargo for five years. She is an activities director in a local assisted living facility.

Jenn likes the market because of the live music, different foods, and fresh produce. For the upcoming winter market, Jenn thinks she’ll explore the bakeries, along with the African and Indian food, and that she’s not quite expecting fresh fruits and vegetables this time of year, global warming or not.

Jenn says, “I encourage everyone to get out and experience what the independent, local businesses have to offer.”

IF YOU GO

Red River Winter Market 

Saturday, March 4, 10am–2pm 

613 1st Ave N, Fargo 

Admission free of charge